Is Free Speech Infinite?

When the Westboro Baptist Church, an anti-gay group based in Topeka, Kan., picketed the 2006 funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder bearing signs that read "God Hates the USA," "God Hates Gays" and God Loves Dead Soldiers", the serviceman's father, Albert Snyder, sued for infliction of emotional distress, winning an $11 million judgment in 2007. But that did not end it.Upon appeal, Snyder's award was overturned and a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge last week ordered Snyder to pay $16,510.80 of the Westboro Baptist Church's almost $100,000 in legal fees.

Bill O'Reilly of FOX NEWS' "The O'Reilly Factor" says he will pay the legal tab for the father of the fallen Marine. Said O'Reilly,: "I'm not going to let this injustice stand."

On Good Morning America Snyder stated, "It was bad enough that they reversed the decision, but then to tell me I had to pay them money so they can do this to more military funerals, that's what hurts the most."

The so-called "church", which bears no resemblance to anything Christian is well-known for it vile hatred of almost everyone but themselves. They make it their life's work to promote hatred for gays, soldiers and almost anyone else not in their little clicque. According to them, God does not love; God hates. And there is nothing Christian in that.

But the legal argument is what I find interesting here. In the first court action, the judge determined the "church" had over-stepped their right to free speech by imposing their hate speech at a funeral, where a certain decorum is expected and deserved. The appeals court found otherwise - that people have the right to ANY speech, any time and any place.

I believe the appeals court has conveniently overlooked the concept that freedom of speech is not infinite. It does not permit libel. You cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater. And you cannot incite violence or a riot. Exceptions to free speech are made because there is an unspoken part in all our rights - while we do have certain rights, we do not have the right to abuse those rights. Rights come with responsibilities. And this "church" completely ignores responsibilities and overtly abuses their right to free speech.

This will go to the Supreme Court. It's hard to say how they will find, since several of the justices are activists, and do not pay much heed to the Constitution. But I suspect Snyder will win in the end, because this, so far, is a horrible miscarriage of justice. It always is, when the bad guys win and the honorable are beaten down.

So, folks, what do you think? Would you feel this "church" has a right to come to the funeral of one of your own loved ones, and picket, protest and denegrate the memory of that loved one? Or if they came and did that at your own wedding - should "free speech" allow that?

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